(CNN) - A Romney campaign aide confirms to CNN that former Sen. Rick Santorum, who endorsed Mitt Romney last week, has recorded an automated phone call being used in several Super Tuesday states that directly questions whether rival John McCain has the temperament to be president.

“As a conservative, I don’t agree with McCain on many issues and I don’t think he has the temperament and leadership ability to move the country in the right direction,’ Santorum says in the call, according to the Romney source.

Santorum notes that as a senator, he worked hard to stop Democrats and pass a conservative agenda, and “a few senators like John McCain stood in our way.”

In the Senate, Santorum clashed with McCain on several issues that make conservatives skeptical of the Arizona senator – especially his bill to reform campaign finance laws.

Despite that, McCain went to Pennsylvania to campaign for Santorum in his ill-fated 2006 Senate re-election bid – something McCain aides are now quick to point out.

But as McCain began to rise in the polls and win presidential primaries over the past month, Santorum began aggressively calling conservative radio and engaging with GOP bloggers, calling McCain too liberal to be the Republican nominee.

soundoff(79 Responses)

No one here in PA cared what Santorum had to say and neither will anyone anywhere else. Romney, is this a test of who can pull together the most losers! you win!

February 4, 2008 02:05 pm at 2:05 pm |

Dave W

Santorum represents the worst of the Republican party. This is another hearty endorsement for McCain.

McCain was not my first choice, but he now has my vote. Let's unite this party and move to November!

February 4, 2008 05:53 pm at 5:53 pm |

Doc Savage

What a great reason to vote FOR McCain. Santorum is against him. I suggest that everyone Google "santorum" Hilarious!

February 4, 2008 08:58 pm at 8:58 pm |

shirley

I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT ALL THIS TALK ABOUT -THE MEDIA HAS BEEN BAITING ROMNEY AND HUCKABEE . THEY HAVE BEEN TELLING HUCKABEE THAT ROMNEY SAID THAT A VOTE FOR HUCKABEE IS A VOTE FOR MCCAIN. WELL, THE MEDIA WAS THE FIRST TO SAY THAT , BECAUSE I HEARD THEM SAY IT. THEN IN FLORIDA THE MEDIA SAID HUCKABEE IS DROPPING OUT OF THE RACE, THEN THEY TOLD HUCKABEE THAT ROMNEY SAID IT AND HUCKABEE LASHED OUT AT ROMNEY ABOUT IT WHEN IT WAS THE MEDIA WHO SAID IT TO BEGIN WITH.i KNOW THAT THE MEDIA IS JUST SETTING BACK AND LAUGHING BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY ARE CAUSING TROUBLE., WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY ( THE DEVIL IS THE AUTHOR OF CONFUSION) THE CANDIDATES MIGHT NOT KNOW YOU HAVE DONE THIS AS THEY ARE VERY BUSY, BUT THEY WILL KNOW. YOUR CREDIBILITY IS 0. AS FOR CONSERVATIVES HAVING TO SETTLE FOR MCCAIN , THAT WAS A MEDIA LIE, NOW YOU SEE ROMNEY HAS WON MAINE AND HE IS DOING VERY WELL IN CALIFORNIA -DONT GIVE UP ROMNEY SUPPORTERS. GO ROMNEY. EVEN IF ROMNEY DOESNT WIN, WE KNOW HE FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT TO HELP AMERICANS AND THE OTHERS ARE SAYING ALMOST EXACTLY WHAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE –EXCEPT THE SURGE